Praise and Worship Flags - Biblical Applications

The words "Banner", "Flag" and "Standard" are found all through out in the Bible;

• Psalm 20:5 - May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory, flying banners to honor our God. May the LORD answer all your prayers.


• Psalm 60:4 - But you have raised a banner for those who honor You; a rallying point in the face of attack.


• Isaiah 13:2 - See the flags waving as the enemy attacks. Cheer them on, O Israel! Wave to them as they march against Babylon to destroy the palaces of the high and mighty.


• Isaiah 59:19 - "Then at last they will respect and glorify the name of the Lord throughout the world. For He will come like a flood tide driven by the breath (flag) of the Lord."


• Isaiah 62:10 - Go out! Prepare the highway for my people to return! Smooth out the road; pull out the boulders; raise a flag for all the nations to see.

In these scriptures we see the flag or banner being used as a proclamation for warfare to gather the people, proclaim victory, bring comfort and direction.

• Reference #5251 - "nec" in Hebrew is pronounced "nace" - a flag, a flagstaff, a signal, as a banner, pole, sail, sign, standard. Isaiah 49:22 - This is what the Sovereign Lord says: "See, I will give a signal to the godless nations. They will carry your little sons back to you in their arms; they will bring your daughters on their shoulders". Jeremiah 51:12 - Raise the battle flag against Babylon! Reinforce the guard and station the watchmen. Prepare an ambush, for the LORD will fulfill all his plans against Babylon.
  Isaiah 59:19 - So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.


• Reference #5264 - "nacac" Hebrew is pronounced "naw-sas" is a primary root to see from afar, to be conspicuous as a signal, identification fixed on a pole fluttering in the wind where the movement catches the eye, raised as a beacon, lift up as an ensign. These are flags that are calling out to be seen. Psalm 60:4 - But you have raised a banner for those who honor you- a rallying point in the face of attack. Isaiah 62:10 - Go out! Prepare the highway for my people to return! Smooth out the road; pull out the boulders; raise a flag for all the nations to see.


• Reference #1713 - "dagal" in Hebrew is pronounced "daw-gal" meaning to flaunt, raise a flag to be conspicuous, set up with banners as on a wall. This is done as a proclamation. Song of Solomon 6:4 O my beloved, you are as beautiful as the lovely town of Tirzah. Yes, as beautiful as Jerusalem! You are as majestic as an army with banners! Song of Solomon 6:4 Who is this, they ask, arising like the dawn, as fair as the moon, as bright as the sun, as majestic as an army with banners? The banner is a warning to outsiders that this area is protected which is a form of covering.


• Reference #1714 - "degel" in Hebrew is pronounced "deh-gel" a flag, banner or standard. Song of Solomon 2:4 He brings me to the banquet hall, so everyone can see how much He loves me. We see the banner as a covering by His actions, expressing His love for us. I believe the very first flag or banner goes all the way back to the time of Noah. Genesis 9:12 - 13 12 and God said, "I am giving you a sign as evidence of My eternal covenant with you and all living creatures. 13 I have placed My rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of My permanent promise to you and to all the earth.

Covenant/Promise Flag - God placed the rainbow high in the sky for all to see, and it was to be a reminder of God's promise to never flood the earth again. There have been many other times throughout scripture where God has made covenants with us. And as you think of all the colors in the rainbow, each one has their own special meaning and purpose. We are to stand on God's Word and His promises. By using the Promise flag we are making a claim that we are taking Him at His Word.

The first man to lift up a banner biblically was Moses in the victory over the Amalekites. Exodus 17:8 - 15 Moses stood on top of the hill with the rod of God in his hand overlooking the battlefield, and as he lifted it up it showed their dependence upon the Lord and there would be no victory without God's intervention. The Israelites prevailed while the rod was lifted and when Moses' arms were too tired to lift up the rod, Aaron and Hur found a rock for Moses to sit on and they held up his hand. Exodus 17:15 Moses built an altar there and called it "The Lord Is My Banner." "Jehovah Nissi"

Lifting flags in worship is very similar to the action of Moses as he lifted his rod. This is a visible sign of proclaiming God's presence, His power and His authority over all the enemy. As we wave our flags in worship, we are proclaiming whose army we are representing.

Tabernacle with Jesus Flag - this is done in the presence of men on earth and before the powers and principalities in the heavens. The purpose is to declare His name and an aspect of God's character. As we wave the flag we minister in love to our Lord and King and proclaim the magnificence of who He is to the congregation. This allows the Holy Spirit the freedom to minister to the congregation's individual needs.

The first people to mark their territory with banners after leaving Egypt were the twelve tribes of Israel. Numbers 1:52 each tribe of Israel will have a designated camping area with its own family banner. Numbers 2:34 so the people of Israel did everything just as the Lord had commanded Moses. Each clan and family set up camp and marched under their banners exactly as the Lord had instructed them.

Victory is won because of who we are representing. Psalm 20:5 May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory, flying banners to honor our God. May the Lord answer all your prayers. 2 Chronicles 20:1 - 4; 15b - 16a; 17 - 24 This is where we see the hand of God move and the battle was won through the praises to Him before they even went into the battle.

When we pick up a flag and worship our Lord we are drawing close into His presence where the enemy cannot stay and have his way. James 4:7 - 8a so humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you.

Later in the Word we see objects being used as a point of contact for healing. Numbers 21:8 - 9 Then the Lord told him, "Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to the top of a pole. Those who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!" So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to the top of a pole. Whenever those who were bitten looked at the bronze snake, they recovered! God directed Moses to do this as a focal point and made provision for the people to be healed.

John 3:14 - 17 As we look to the Cross in faith, we find healing, forgiveness and restoration through the blood of Jesus. Flags are not idols and do not contain healing powers or any other manifested gift of God. It is God only who is our source of any kind of power, so if He chooses to reveal or move in a mighty way, give all glory and honor unto Him. The flags only serve the body of Christ as a visual reminder of His faithfulness as Jehovah Jireh, the Lord our Provider, just as when we see a dove we think of the Lord our Peace, Jehovah Shalom.

As a particular flag is raised, there may be a prayer behind it, seen somewhat like a billboard. The Salvation Flag was prompted by a thought of how I could show God's love in a way that could be understood by anyone no matter what language they spoke. Jesus hung all His love for mankind on the cross for our salvation. The ground is in the shape of an arch with the scriptures of Colossians 1:19 - 22 and John 3:16.